Shipping-crate for bananas.



Patented Ian. 7, I902.

, No. 690,657. T. J. LOWTHER.

.SHIPPING CRATE FOR BANANAS;-

(Applicaticn filed Sept. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.)

ca. mpmumu. WASHINGTON n c fruit against cold in winter and of UNITED STATES- PATENr OFFICE.

THOMAS JEFFERSON LOWTHER, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

SHIPPING-CRATE FOR BANANAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,657, dated January '7, 1902. Application filed $eptember 11, 1901. Serial No. 75,057. (No'modelJ To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, THOMAS JEFFERSON LOWTHER, a citizen of the United'Sta'tes, re-' siding at Shreveport, in the parish of Caddo and State of Louisiana, haveinvented anew and useful Shipping-Crate for Bananas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping-crates for bananas. V

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed, highly durable, thoroughly-efficient, and readily-operable structure of the character specified in which bananas may beshipped with safety, and which may be roughlyhandled without danger of the contained fruit being bruised or otherwise damaged, and in which the fruit may, if desired,be exposed tothe action of heatand light without danger of being handled or stolen.

A further object is to provide a crate thefruit-containing holder or cylinder of which shallpossess the properties of shielding the expediting ripening thereof in summer.

A further object is to provide a cratethe supporting-frame of which shall be so con- .structedand braced as successfully'to withstand rough handling or great applied weight without danger of injury or collapse.

With these and other objects in view, as

will appear as the nature of the invention is 1 better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a shipping-crate for bananas, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated a form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a-view in perspective of a completed crate. Fig. 2 is a View in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in section, showing the manner in which the parts of the crate-frame are held assembled.

Referring to the dravs 'ings, 1 designates gener'ally the supporting frame of the structure comprising four corner-posts 2, which are stayed and held assembled at their ends and intermediate thereofbythree brace-frames 3, at, and 5, each consisting of four pieces of wood secured together at their outer corners by, cleats 6. In order to relieve. strain from the corner-posts when weight is applied to posts, as shown in Fig. 3. The other two parallel members of the brace-frame aresimilarly rabbeted at 8; but the rabbets of these inembersare longer than those of the adjacent members, whereby to permit them to project out flush with the ends thereof, as

also shown in Fig. 3, thus to present a square corner.' To hold the members of the braceframe assembled with the corner-posts, nails or screws 9 are passed through the rabbeted portions of each of the members and into the posts, the corner-cleats 6 operating as additional braces for holding-the parts assembled.

It will thus be seen that when the crate is lying on' its side any weight applied thereto will be transmitted through the corner-posts to the rabbet shoulders 9 of the brace memibers that are in vertical position, so that any inward bending of the corner-posts will be positively obviated. As a means of additionally bracing the supporting-frame against separation of its parts stay-wires lOare employed on each side thereof, one end of each of which wires is secured to one of the corner-posts, as by a nail or staple l1, thence is passed diagonally around the outer side of 'the center brace-frame adjacent to its corner,

as shown at 12, thence diagonally across and around the bottom brace-frame adjacent to its corner, as shown in dotted lines at 13,

thence under this member to the oppositeside and upward and around the same adjacent to its corner, as at 14, thence around the center brace -frame adjacent to its corner, as shown at 15, and thence diagonally across to another corner-post, where the end is secured IOO by a nail or staple 16. After the stay-wires are thus assembled the cleats 6 are secured in position by screws or nails 17 and serve the dual purpose of holding the wires associated with the respective brace-frame and also of preventing the nails or screws 9 from working out. As the same order of arrangement is observed on the other three sides of the supporting-frame, the description herein given of the arrangement on one side will serve for all.

\Vhile not herein shown, it is to be understood that grooves may be provided at those points on the brace-frames against which the stay-wires bear; but inasmuch as the wires are caused to sink into the members of the brace-frames when the cleats are positioned thereon the provision of such grooves will not ordinarily be necessary. The lower braceframe 5 has secured to it a bottom 18, upon which rests the lower open end of the fruitholder 19, the same being a cylinder constructed of any suitable flexible material,preferably of wood-fiber paper, on account of its toughness, durability, and light weight. Further, the employment of wood-fiber paper is preferred on account of being air-proof, so that when bananas are shipped in winter they will be thoroughly protected against excessive cold, and this air-proof feature will operate in summer-time to cause the holder to expedite ripening of the contained fruit. The fruit-holder is held in position within the supporting-frame in this instance by nails or tacks 20, which are driven into the top and intermediate brace-frames, as shown in Fig. 2.

The cover or lid 21 is in this instance a retiform structure composed, preferably,of intermeshed wire and is held assembled with the upper brace-frame 3 by staples or hinges 22. Byhaving the cover an open-work structure air, when desired, is permitted to have free access to the cylinder, while at the same time the contents of the cylinder are effectively shielded against theft, as the mesh of the wires is to be of such size as to prevent insertion of the fingers therethrough. To effect secure locking of the cover or top, a seal 23 is employed, such as is usually employed on freight-car doors or the like, the Wire 24 of which passes around one of the members of the top brace-frame, and thus holds the lid securely assembled therewith, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

WVhile the fruit-holder or cylinder 19 is herein shown as circular in cross-section, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to this particular shape, as the same may be rectangular, if preferred, and as this will be obvious illustration is deemed unnecessary.

Prior to placing a bunch of bananas within the holder the bottom 18 will be provided with a layer of straw, and after the bunch of bananas has been placed within the holder straw or hay may also be placed on top thereof, so that should the crate be stood on end in shipment the bananas will be protected from damage.

The only part of the structure that will be liable to damage in use will be the holder 19, and as this is made of paper it may, in case of damage or destruction, readily be replaced with a new one at but small cost.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the crate of this invention is exceedingly simple of construction it possesses all the requisites necessary to the production ofa thoroughly-eflieient shippingcrato, and by reason of the manner in which its parts are braced and stayed against injury or collapse it may be safely and advantageously employed for the purpose named.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A crate comprising co1'ner-posts,end and intermediate brace-frames having an interlocked relation with the posts, diagonallydisposed stay-Wires associated with the corners of the brace-frames and with the posts, and corner-cleats for holding the stay-wires assembled with the said brace-frames.

2. A crate comprising an open-work diagonally-stayed supporting-frame provided with a bottom, a yieldable air-proof fruit-holder resting on the bottom and secured to the frame, and an open-work cover carried by the top of the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS JEFFERSON L0 W'llllllt.

Witnesses:

J. F. SLATTERY, A. M. HIGHHOUSE. 

